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[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

(-------------)
[V/O-NAT]
They're revved up to bring drag racing to Java. Local residents are just as fired up in opposition.
We'll track down both sides on NEWS tonight.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]

And Senate Republicans call in State troopers to investigate the Governor's own political action committee.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports, we'll return to Charlottesville and talk to the Virginia Cavaliers about their dominating performance last night against Maryland.
Former Cav Barry Parkhill is headed to the Hall of Fame.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Tech's Lee Suggs drops in on William Byrd Middle School today.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

What will ground hog day bring? We'll have our forecast and take a look at the February Almanac as well in just a moment.

[Video-Open]

High horsepower .. high decibels.
A southside community makes its own noise to fight a proposed dragstrip.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Drag-Strip]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC1:57:00]
[GRAPHIC=Pitts Dragstrip]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
It might not be as large as some of the nation's biggest drag raceways, maybe not as LOUD.
But nearby residents say it will still destroy their community and way of life.
SUPPORTERS say it would bring much-needed revenue and jobs to Pittsylvania County.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
That's the heart of a debate over whether a drag strip should be built near Chatham.
News-7 Danville Bureau Justin McLeod says this neighbor dispute is headed for the courtroom.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound of a drag strip]
[SUPER=03-Natural Bridge/September 1998; :00]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; :08]
[SUPER=01-Leslie Redd/Area Resident; :12 QUICK!!!!]
[SUPER=01-Stone Gregory, III/Property Owner; :36]
[SUPER=@justin1; :55]
[SUPER=01-James Rubeck/Area Resident; 1:19]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=Justin McLeod, News 7, Pittsylvania County]
((((NAT SOUND FILE OF DRAG STRIP))
A drag strip much like the one you see here could soon arrive in Pittsylvania County.
The 1/4 mile strip would be located off Route 832 near Java.
[SOT :00:37:04]
[IN Q=all that noise]
((LESLIE REDD: ALL THAT NOISE IS COMING THIS WAY.))
[Runs02]
[OUT Q=this way]

Area residents are fighting to stop the plan dead in its tracks.
[SOT :00:24:58]
[IN Q=This is going to completely]
((LESLIE REDD/RESIDENT: THIS IS GOING TO COMPLETELY DESTORY OUR COMMUNITY.))
[Runs05]
[OUT Q=destory our community]

In that community, 28 families live within a mile of the proposed drag strip.
All but two oppose the plan.
They believe the drag strip would generate too much noise, traffic, and pollution.
[SOT :00:42:46]
[IN Q=I'm not going to have]
((STONE GREGORY III/LAND OWNER: I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE FUEL TANKS ON THE PROPERTY. AS FOR OIL, THE ONLY PLACE OIL WILL BE SPILLED WOULD BE ON THE TRACK IF A MOTOR BROKE OR SOMETHING. THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEANED UP BEFORE WE COULD RACE ANYMORE.))
[Runs10]
[OUT Q=race anymore]

The races would take place three times a week....mainly on the weekends.
Anywhere between two and four thousand people are expected in the stands for each race.
[SOT :00:48:36]
[IN Q=Even after strong opposition]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: EVEN AFTER STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN, THE PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS APPROVED THE PROJECT, ESSENTIALLY GIVING THE OWNER THE GREEN LIGHT TO START CONSTRUCTION. BUT NOW SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS ARE HEADING TO COURT TO GET AN INJUNCTION.))
[Runs13]
[OUT Q=to get an injunction]
The injunction would prevent Gregory from starting any construction until the lawsuit against the county is resolved.

Ten residents and a church are suing to overturn the board's decision.
[SOT :00:32:19]
[IN Q=the board overeached]
((JAMES RUBECK/AREA RESIDENT: THE BOARD OVEREACHED AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND RODE RIGHT OVER THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUT HERE.))
[Runs06]
[OUT Q=live out there]
The people who live out here fear the lawsuit is their last resort, and if they lose some residents say they'll move.

The owner hopes to start racing by the end of the year.
But it's clear this dispute is far from reaching the finish line.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Pittsylvania County.))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]

The owner says under his permit, noise cannot exceed 90 decibels.
The injunction hearing takes place tomorrow in Pittylvania County Circuit Court.

The jury is still deliberating the case against Rickey Young.
He is charged with five counts of willful failure to file federal tax returns.
Those charges are misdemeanors. Yesterday the judge threw out two felony charges.
(---------------)

[Depot-Fire]

Roanoke Fire officials say the blaze that damaged the former depot of the Virginian Railway was an accident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Monday Night;]

The Depot Feed and Seed building went up in flames Monday night.
Investigators won't issue a final report before next week, but they believe a homeless man who lived near the building started a fire in a trash barrel to stay warm.
The barrel overturned, and the flames quickly spread to a trailer and then the building.
(------------)

[Child-Death]

No word yet on what caused the sudden death of a 7 year old Salem girl.
While Maya M. Scott's autopsy is complete-- the results have not been released.
Salem Police found Scott unresponsive at her home on Irish Circle Wednesday afternoon.
She later died.
Officials do not suspect foul play.
Scott was a kindergartner at South Salem Elementary.
The school is accepting money and food donations for her family.

[Car-Tax]

The war of words between Governor Jim Gilmore and his fellow Republicans in the state Senate has taken a nasty turn.
The State Police are investigating the Governor's political action committee -- at the request of Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee.
Ellen Qualls has details.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Governor Jim]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Ken Stolle/(R) Virginia Beach; :16 ]
[SUPER=01-Ray Allen/Governor's Consultant; :40 ]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; 1:00 ]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; 1:40 ]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=News 7, Richmond.]
(( Governor Jim Gilmore's New Majority PAC is paying a Richmond phone bank to call voters.
The telemarketers then connect the voter to their Senator's office, if the Senator has a seat on the powerful, and right now maverick, Senate Finance Committee.
[sot 13:24:11]
((SEN. KEN STOLLE/R-VIRGINIA BEACH: YOU COULD HEAR BACKGROUND NOISE IN THE BACK FROM THE PHONE POLLING COMPANY AS THEY WERE TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE....WHETHER THEY WERE LISTENING OR NOT IS FOR THE STATE POLICE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WERE LISTENING ON THE PHONE CALLS.))
[runs:22]
If they were listening, Republican Ken Stolle says it's a felony.
[sot 15:38:47]
((RAY ALLEN/GOVERNOR'S CONSULTANT: WHETHER SOMEBODY STAYED ON THAT PHONE THREE SECONDS, FIVE... CAR TAX.))
[runs:09 ]
The Governor's PAC director and political consultant says there is NO intent to listen in.
The Governor himself was apparently unaware of the Police probe until reporters told him.
[sot 12:48:05]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY STATE POLICE INVESTIGATION. Really? The State Police are investigating..WELL LET 'EM DO IT. LET 'EM DO IT.))
[runs:09 ]
[sot 15:33:24]
((RAY ALLEN/GOVERNOR'S CONSULTANT: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I AM AWARE OF ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO POLITICIZE THE STATE POLICE FORCE IN THIS MANNER. IT IS JUST PLAIN WRONG.))
[runs:10 ]
[sot 13:3O:34]
((SEN. KEN STOLLE/R-VIRGINIA BEACH: YOU KNOW THAT'S JUST SIMPLY THE POLITICS OF ASSASSINATION. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY CONSTITUENTS...NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS SITUATION.))
[runs:18 ]
State Police will only say they have "opened an inquiry" into "numerous" phone calls that could violate the Communications Intercept Law.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

Previous tries ended in failure.
Tonight, a new attempt gets underway to re-name a Roanoke site after Martin Luther king Junior.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And its owners filled it by defrauding two elderly sisters.
Now all the expensive furniture, china and paintings from the Dora Estate go on the auction block.
(----------------)

[Dora-Estate]

It's been the talk of Huddleston for years.. and in a couple of weeks, curious neighbors and interested dealers will finally get a glimpse inside the infamous "Dora" estate near Smith Mountain Lake.
Steve Smallshaw takes us inside for a look at how two women lived the high life spending someone else's money.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Set against]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Barry Muse/Ted Counts Auctions]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=News7, Bedford County.]
(( Set against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains, the 12-thousand square foot "Dora" mansion stands in stark contrast to its rural surroundings.
[natsot 12:53:22]
((THIS IS PROBABLY THE MASTER BEDROOM CLOSET.. ))
[RUNS= 02]

Inside is even more impressive.
Fine furniture, crystal, silver tea sets and huge chandeliers fill every room.
No detail was omitted, no expense spared in the construction of the house.. or in its furnishings.
[SOT 13:02:07]
((BARRY MUSE/TED COUNTS AUCTIONS: YOU CAN LOOK AT THE HOUSE, THE WAY IT'S BEEN DECORATED AND EVERYTHING.THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE BUYING AND WHAT THEY WANTED TO PUT IN THE HOUSE.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=in the house.]

"They" are Dorothy Saunders and Thelma Mae Barger.
The two women built and furnished the home in part by defrauding two elderly sisters out of their life savings.
Saunders and Barger's new home is a federal prison.. the contents of "Dora" will be auctioned off February 17th.
[SOT 13:01:22]
((BARRY MUSE/TED COUNTS AUCTIONS: THE FURNITURE IN HERE IS VERY HIGH QUALITY. I MEAN YOU TAKE A LOOK AROUND AT THE ROOMS, AT THE FURNITURE LINED UP IN HERE, THE SILVER, THE BRASS.. YOU CAN TELL THAT SOME OF THIS FURNITURE IS THE KIND OF FURNITURE YOU'D WANT TO KEEP AND PASS ON TO YOUR FAMILY, IT'S HIGH-DOLLAR STUFF.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=high-dollar stuff.]
[Standup 13:16:51]
((Ironically, after they embezzled more than 300- thousand dollars from the McNeil sisters and used it to help build and furnish this huge mansion, Dorothy Saunders and Thelma Mae Barger then installed this elaborate video security and alarm system.. with a camera in every room.. designed to prevent someone from breaking in and stealing what Saunders and Barger essentially had stolen themselves.))
[RUNS= 21]
[OUT Q=stolen themselves.]

Both the McNeil sisters have since died.
Proceeds from the auction will go to their estate.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford County.))

[Motor-Carrier]

The word is out to unsafe truckers: keep your rigs in good running order or stay off the roads in Bedford County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

The sheriff's department today became the first in the state to operate its own motor carrier safety unit.
Four deputies have been specially trained to stop tractor trailers and inspect them for violations such as worn brakes and broken lights.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:57:08]
[IN Q=That's what we're]
((SGT. DARRYL SAUNDERS/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE OUT HERE FOR IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT ON THE HIGHWAYS FOR THE CITIZENS HERE IN BEDFORD, AND PEOPLE VISITING AND FOR THE TRUCKERS THEMSELVES. FROM TIME TO TIME YOU'LL HAVE A TRUCKER WHO'LL TELL US 'I'M GLAD YOU STOPPED ME, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND BY DOING THIS, THE COMPANY WILL TAKE A HARD LOOK AT IT FOR US'.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Darryl Saunders/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Dept.]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=at it for us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sheriff Mike Brown says he formed the unit after years of complaints about unsafe trucks travelling through the county.
(------------)

[Covington-Bridge]

A bridge in Covington has been shut down. Officials say it is unsafe.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Covington]

Hawthorne Road Bridge was closed yesterday.
Its pavement and supports are deteriorating.
Covington's city manager says he's aware of the problem, and he's asked V-DOT for funding to fix it.
No word yet on when the bridge will re-open.
(------------)

[King]

They want to honor Martin Luther King with a memorial in Roanoke?
The the question is what exactly would be a fitting tribute and where should it go?
[DOUBLE BOXES= Keith/KateMicrowave;]
Kate Weidaw is at the Roanoke Civic Center tonight where a meeting of the City Manager's advisory committee gets underway in less then an hour.
[LIVE= Kate FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Kate1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

The Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Committee wants input from Roanoke residents on what should be named after the civil rights leader.
Right now four places on are the table, the Roanoke Civic Center, the Higher Education Center, the airport, and Orange Avenue.
(----------)
[VO-NAT]
[***KATE'S MIKE HOT***]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

You might remember this issue came up back in 1999 when the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led the effort to name Orange Avenue after King.
In the end City Council rejected the proposal.
(------------)
[LIVE= Kate FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Starting tonight through April residents can voice what they want named after King.
[DOUBLE BOXES= Keith and Kate/Microwave;]

Tonight on News 7 at 11 we'll hear what residents have to say and find out how the committee is going to decide on the location.

[Greenfield]

The Greenfield Education and Training Center in Botetourt County is ready to be filled with students.
The center has state of the art computer labs as well as a manufacturing training facility.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:49]
[IN Q=IT PROVIDES]
((DR. MARK EMICK: IT PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO GAIN HIGH SKILLS TRAINING WITHOUT HAVING TO SEND THEIR EMPLOYEES LONG DISTANCES.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Mark Emick/VA Western Workforce Dev. Dean]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=long distances.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The center can also be used for start up companies wishing to move into the industrial park.
Classes will get under way in the middle of March.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, Tiger plays at Pebble Beach bad knee and all.
Former UVa great Barry Parkhill is heading to the hall of fame.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And we'll flash back to last night's dominating performance by the Cavs and get their thoughts on crushing Maryland.
(------------)

[S-Tiger]

Tiger Woods is 5 under par after 17 holes at Pebble Beach, just two shots out of the lead.
He's playing with the sprained left knee he hurt yesterday when he collided with an overzealous fan.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THERE ARE A LOT...]
[SUPER=01-Tiger Woods/5 Under Through 17 Holes; :00]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=...THEY DON'T HAPPEN."]
(------------)

[S-Parkhill]

The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth has announced that it is welcoming one of UVa's all-time greats to the hall this summer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
Barry Parkhill, the 2-time Cavalier all-American in early 1970s - scored nearly 1500 hundred points in three seasons at Virginia.
His number 40 jersey is one of just 6 retired at University Hall.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm...]
[SUPER=01-Barry Parkhill/1437 Points at UVa; :00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=...THE SAME WAY."]
(------------)
[VO NAT CON'T]
[SUPER=03-Portsmouth;:00]
Parkhill will join fellow Cavalier basketball great, Ralph Sampson, who already is in the hall.
(------------)

[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
(-----------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE 1204]
And you can catch the red-hot Hoos in action right here on Your Hometown Station this Saturday night in Primetime as the Cavs host the struggling Wake Forest Demon Deacons at eight.
(-----------------)
[GO TO PINNACLE 1200]
But first tonight we need to focus on the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tarheels.
The battle for first place in the ACC tips off at 9, right after Survivor right here on WDBJ-7.
(------------------)

[S-Lee]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-81 (57:59)]
[GRAPHIC=Lee Suggs]
The sixth graders at William Byrd Middle School spent the afternoon in some special company.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :]

Virginia Tech tailback Lee Suggs dropped by the school to answer questions from the students and he then schooled them on how to be a good student-athlete.
Suggs found out quickly that these sixth graders consider him a hometown role model.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="They kind of...]
[SUPER=01-Lee Suggs/Virginia Tech Running Back; :]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=...somebody's looking.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Suggs, the winner of the Dudley award this year, rushed for over 12-hundred yards and led the nation in scoring with 28 touchdowns.
But it was his academic success that caught the eye of sixth grade teacher Erica Lea.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Seeing all...]
[SUPER=01-Erica Lea/Sixth Grade Teacher; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=....their goals."]
(------------)

[Almanac]

[ANCHOR=Robin]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

If you are a snow fan wondering about the rest of the winter, Jacey tells us February is a big snow month. And there are other things happening sky wise. Here is our monthly almanac.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@Jacey1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Leslie Bochenski/Science Museum of Western VA; :57]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=I'm Jacey Birch]

[Music Continues for 1:00]

[Young-Verdict]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=01-06 TC01:52]
[GRAPHIC=Rickey Young]
The verdict is in.
A federal jury has found Martinsville attorney Rickey Young GUILTY ... on five counts of willful failure to file federal tax returns.
More on the verdict tonight on News 7 at 11.